Walmart will start its holiday sales at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Thursday this year, two hours earlier than last year.

The world’s largest retailer said it’s simply responding to customer demand for earlier sale times, but some people are concerned about the erosion of the Thanksgiving holiday. But while shoppers have the option of skipping out on the sales, Walmart needs extra staff to handle long lines for discounted televisions, Blu-ray players, and tablets.

Rachel Wall, a Walmart spokeswoman, said the company has had stores open on Thanksgiving since the 1980s. Thus, the only change is that more staff will be needed to handle sale times.

“Our associates are excited for Black Friday,” said Rachel Wall, a Walmart spokeswoman at a media event Tuesday. “They get holiday pay and breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

The holiday pay works out to an extra eight hours of pay for every 40 hours worked, or about 20 percent more, depending on how many extra hours they work. They also get 10 percent extra off on their own purchases.

A union-backed group called OUR Walmart has threatened to strike on Black Friday at some stores and distribution centers, but no one knows how widespread that strike will be, or if it will happen at all.

Michael Johnson has been a Walmart employee for five years, starting not long after he retired from his job as a building supervisor for San Diego Unified School District. He was born and raised in San Diego, and he and his wife raised their eight children here.

He’ll be working on Thanksgiving and on Black Friday, as he has in each of his years working for the company. He spoke to U-T San Diego while on the job, during an open-store event for media on Tuesday. His answers have been edited for brevity.

Q: Why come work at Walmart?

A: I was always in the store, shopping. It seemed to make sense.

Q: How do you think Black Friday will go this year?

A: Real smooth. Management has most of this stuff together.

Q: How do you feel about working on Black Friday?

A: I don’t mind it, watching people hammer out their brains for the best toy or television.

Q: Do you shop on Black Friday?

A: Never on Black Friday. I’m always working. I get off and I’m tired. I take a lunch break and try to get some of the deals. There are some good deals on TVs

Q: How do you feel about working on Thanksgiving?

A: It’s kind of hard, because I don’t get to cook my turkey.

Q: Will your family do Thanksgiving without you?

A: If I don’t cook my turkey they don’t come by! No, they have their own families now, they do their own thing.